Blade dispenser for direct application to a razor



Nov. 29, 1966 E. DE LONGUYON 3,288,328

BLADE DISPENSER FOR DIRECT APPLICATION TO A RAZOR Filed Jan. 6. 1965 Fig. 2

United States Patent hLADE DlSPENSER FOR lDlRECT APPLICATION TO A RAZOR Ernst de Longnyon, Pnllach, Munich, Germany, assignor to Climar A.G., Zug, Switzerland Filed Jan. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 423,718

Qlaims priority, application Switzerland, Sept. 22, 1964,

12,3tl9/64 4 Claims. (Cl. 221-102) The present invention has reference to an improved blade dispenser for direct application to a razor of the type using relatively rigid razor blades. More specifically, the inventive blade dispenser is constructed to house a plurality of stacked blades which can be displaced by means of a dispensing element in the form of a slide directly into the razor to which the blade dispenser is applied, with a knife-like projection or extension being used to open the clamping mechanism of the razor. As a result the blade can be deposited into the clamping mechanism of the razor without having to be contacted by the hand of a user.

It is already known to the art to manufacture such type blade-dispensers from metal. The production of the known blade dispensers takes place by means of a complioated punching and bending process, thus requiring a considerably increased price.

One of the more essential aspects of the present invention resides in the feature that there is provided a plastic housing enclosing the razor blades, that at a narrow side of the housing which is situated opposite the knife-like projection there is provided a cover member which closes the aforesaid housing. In addition to a compartment for new razor blades the dispenser housing exhibits a further compartment for retaining or storing used razor blades. Moreover, the cover member is advantageously arranged such that it closes both of the aforesaid compartments arranged one above the other.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the cover member possesses, by way of example, a receiving slot for the used blades. The cover member can also carry a small support or base at the inside, this support serves to retain the unused razor blades in their exact position. Furthermore, this cover member can be provided with lateral cams or lugs which for the purpose of attaching the cover member to the housing engage in openings provided at such housing.

Advantageously, the dispenser is further provided above the compartment for storing the blades with two lateral overlying guide ledges for guiding the dispensing slide, between which ledge-s there is disposed an elongated or lengthwise slot. The slide member which is movable upon the guide ledges can laterally engage about these guide ledges by means of the flexed or bent sides.

The slide member can be provided with a lateral projection or protrusion which limits its displacement at impact or stop members provided at the housing. By way of example, the rearmost impact member is inclined or beveled towards the end of the housing in order to render possible the mounting of the slide member by lifting the resilient projection of such slide member. Additionally, this slide member can extend, by means of a nose or cam, through the lengthwise slot of the housing and bear against the rear edge of the uppermost razor blade.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present inenti-on to provide an improved blade dispenser capable of direct application to a razor, such blade dispenser is relatively simple to operate, capable of easily being replenished with new blades, is provided with a compartment for storing used blades, and is relatively simple to manufacture.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an improved blade dispenser for razor blades incorporating a housing advantageously formed of plastic, a cover member applied to one small side of this housing which permits inserting new blades and removing old or used blades from respective compartments provided for the new and old blades.

Still a further important object of this invention relates to the provision of an improved blade dispenser which is relatively simple in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to operate, and permits dispensing of the new blades therefrom in a relatively uncomplicated and troubl-efree manner.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the improved blade dispenser of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a rear end view of the blade dispenser of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the blade dispenser of FIGURE 1 viewed from the front.

Describing now the drawing, the blade dispenser housing 1 'formed of plastic is internally provided wit-h a lower compartment 2 and an upper compartment 3. These compartments 2 and 3 are separated from one another by means of an intermediate partition wall 3a provided at the body of the housing member 1. Moreover, both of these compartments 2 and 3 are closed at the rear or back-end by means of a common cover member 4. This cover member 4 engages in suitable openings 6 of the housing 1 by means of lateral pins or plugs 5 and is thereby held in its intended closing position.

By referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 it will be noted that at the front side of the housing 1 there is provided a knife'like projection or extension 7 serving to open a non-illustrated clamping mechanism of the razor in order to enable introduction or pushing-in of a razor blade. The individual razor blades 8 are located in the compartment 3 in stacked relation one upon the other. These razor blades 8 are advantageously pushed upwards due to the pressure of a resilient element, for instance band spring 9 located beneath the stack of razor blades 8, so that the uppermost razor blade always comes to rest in front of a slot 10 of the housing 1 directed towards and provided at the front side of such housing.

The top of the housing 1 is provided with two spaced and confronting guide ledges 11, 12, between which there is formed a lengthwise or elongated slot 13. A slide member 14 providing blade dispensing means slides along these guide ledges 11, 12.

Such slide member 14 includes downwardly flexed sides 14a which laterally engage about the guide ledges 11, 12. This slide member 14 is prevented from moving past stop or impact means 16, 17 located at opposite ends of the housing 1, by means of a lateral portion or member 15. The rear stop means 17 is advantageously inclined, at 17a, towards the outside, in order that the slide member 14 with its member 15 can be pushed thereover from the outside. A cam or dog 18 extends beneath the slide member 15 into the lengthwise slot 13. The depth of this finger-like cam 18 is formed such that it engages the rear edge of the uppermost razor blade 8, for purposes to be explained more fully shortly.

Considering further physical structure of the cover member 4, it will be seen such carries a small support or base member 19 extending into the compartment 3 and defining the rear bearing or contact surface for the razor blades 8. A lateral opening 29 provided at the dispenser housing 1 permits determining the number of razor blades 8 housed therein. In order to fill the blade dispenser the cover member 4 is first removed. For achieving such, the guide ledges 11, 12 of the housing 1 are somewhat pressed apart at the rear end thereof. As a result, the fixing pins 5 can move out of their associated openings 6. New razor blades 8 together with the band spring 9 can now be pushed into the open compartment 3, and the cover member 4 is again mounted. When the cover member 4 is remounted, the small support member 19 of such cover member pushes the razor blades 8 into their correct position.

In order to remove a razor blade from the housing compartment 3 the slide member 14 is displaced towards the rear end of the housing 1 until the downwardly depending cam 18 is disposed behind the rear edge of the uppermost razor blade. After the knife like projection 7 has been pushed-into the razor unit not illustrated in the drawing, the slide member 14 is pushed forwardly in the direction of the arrow 21. Consequently, the uppermost razor "blade moves through the slot towards the outside and arrives at the clamping mechanism of the razor. This dispensed razor blade is automatically fixedly clamped in the razor after pulling-out the knife-like projection 7. Thereafter, the slide member 14 can be pulled back opposite the direction of the arrow 21, and the next blade can be pushed-out of the dispenser in the same manner. The used razor blades can be pushed from the outside through a slit 22 provided at the cover member 4 into the compartment 2, so that there is ensured that these used blades can be stored without danger.

While there is shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A reusable magazine of molded synthetic plastic for dispensing safety razor blades, including:

a unitary housing, comprising a bottom wall, two side walls, and a forward Wall closing off one end of the housing;

a finger-like projection, integral with said forward wall and extending therefrom, for opening a blade clamping mechanism of a safety razor;

a pair of opposed guide means, one integral with each side wall along the edge thereof remote from said bottom wall, each said means extending laterally inwards with respect to its wall to define in combination a slot and also extending laterally outwards to form each a lateral lip, and said means defining with said forward wall a narrow aperture;

said housing defining at least one interior compartment one side of which is defined by said guide means and slot, said compartment being 'for the storage of fresh blades and communicating with the end of said housing remote from said forward wall;

a unitary slide means for running along said guide means, for ejecting a fresh blade from said compartment through said narrow aperture;

said slide means including integral therewith means running in said slot for engaging the top-most blade in said compartment; and

means engaging said lips for holding said slide means onto said guide means;

a detachable end cover for closing the end of said housing remote from said forward wall; and

means associated with said cover and said housing for detchably securing the cover to the housing, whereby said compartment can be reloaded with fresh blades when empty.

2. The magazine of claim 1, including a wall integral with said side walls and transverse thereto, located intermediate said bottom wall and said guide means, said wall extending along at least part of the distance defined between said forward wall and said cover, said wall and said bottom and side walls defining a further compartment for storing used blades; and aperture in said cover communicating with said further compartment for admitting used blades therein.

3. The magazine of claim 1, including stop means on said housing for limiting the movement of said slide means between first and second end positions; and flexible means on said slide means cooperating with said stop means, for permitting removal from and remounting on the guide means of said slide means.

4. The magazine of claim 1, including means integral with said cover and projecting into said compartment for aligning and holding the fresh blades in their longitudinal direction for ejection.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,473,812 6/1949 Muros 221-2 2,502,248 3/1950 Colton et a1 221-232 X 2,564,712 8/1951 Muros et a1. 221-232 2,671,961 3/1954 Nelson 221-232 X 2,748,980 6/1956 Muller 221232 2,982,442 5/1961 Kuhnl 221-102 3,126,126 3/1964 Kruger et al. 221-102 FOREIGN PATENTS 805,143 5/1951 Germany.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH N. LEIMER, Examiner. 

1. A REUSABLE MAGAZINE OF MOLDED SYNTHETIC PLASTIC FOR DISPENSING SAFETY RAZOR BLADES, INCLUDING: A UNITARY HOUSING, COMPRISING A BOTTOM WALL, TWO SIDE WALLS, AND A FORWARD WALL CLOSING OFF ONE END OF THE HOUSING; A FINGER-LIKE PROJECTION, INTEGRAL WITH SAID FORWARD WALL AND EXTENDING THEREFROM, FOR OPENING A BLADE CLAMPING MECHANISM OF A SAFETY RAZOR; A PAIR OF OPPOSED GUIDE MEANS, ONE INTEGRAL WITH EACH SIDE WALL ALONG THE EDGE THEREOF REMOTE FROM SAID BOTTOM WALL, EACH SAID MEANS EXTENDING LATERALLY INWARDS WITH RESPECT TO ITS WALL TO DEFINE IN COMBINATION A SLOT AND ALSO EXTENDING LATERALLY OUTWARDS TO FORM EACH A LATERAL LIP, AND SAID MEANS DEFINING WITH SAID FORWARD WALL A NARROW APERTURE; SAID HOUSING DEFINING AT LEAST ONE INTERIOR COMPARTMENT ONE SIDE OF WHICH IS DEFINED BY SAID GUIDE MEANS AND SLOT, SAID COMPARTMENT BEING FOR THE STORAGE OF FRESH BLADES AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE END OF SAID HOUSING REMOTE FROM SAID FORWARD WALL; A UNITARY SLIDE MEANS FOR RUNNING ALONG SAID GUIDE MEANS, FOR EJECTING A FRESH BLADE FROM SAID SAID COMPARTMENT THROUGH SAID NARROW APERTURE; SAID SLIDE MEANS INCLUDING INTEGRAL THEREWITH MEANS RUNNING IN SAID SLOT FOR ENGAGING THE TOP-MOST BLADE IN SAID COMPARTMENT; AND MEANS ENGAGING SAID LIPS FOR HOLDING SAID SLIDE MEANS ONTO SAID GUIDE MEANS; A DETACHABLE END COVER FOR CLOSING THE END OF SAID HOUSING REMOTE FROM SAID FORWARD WALL; AND MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID COVER TO THE HOUSING, FOR DETACHABLE SECURING THE COVER TO THE HOUSING, WHEREBY SAID COMPARTMENT CAN BE RELOADED WITH FRESH BLADES WHEN EMPTY. 